The Talking Deaf Man | Page 3

thou shaltst find out
the right way, give God_ _thanks, and let it suffice, that I have
admonished thee; if not, go on to read what follows, where thou wilt
find it, with very little trouble. This very way is that, by which I
taught_ Ehster Kolard, (_a young Virgin of great Hopes, the only
Daughter of Mr_ Peter Kolard, _who was born Deaf) not only to read,
but also to speak readily, yea, and to_ _hold Discourse with others and

in a short time she profited so much, as to remember a many Questions
and Answers in the Catechism, yea, and as far as her young Years were
capable, she understood the Sense of them also: She rejoyced greatly
when I told her, that I was willing to make this Method, by which she
learned to speak, common_ to all. Friendly_ Reader, _use and accept
well these things; and if thou knowest any things better, Candidly
impart them, and make not thy self Ungrateful. Farewell._
* * * * *

An Advertisement to the English Reader.
About 26 Years since, the Honourable, Learned, and Pious F.M. Baron
of Helmont caused to be published in Latin a small Treatise; wholly
and fully to the same purpose, with what is here published: Which said
Treatise, entituled, The Alphabet of Nature, is now in Hand to be
Translated, and Publish'd in _English_; of which it was thought fit here
to give thee this Notice.
Thou art also (kind _Reader_) to be advertised, that there is very lately
Translated into the English a very learned Tract, entituled, _The Divine
Being, and its Attributes_; demonstrated from the Holy Scriptures, and
Original Nature of things, according to the Principles of the aforesaid
F.M. Baron of Helmont. Written in _Low-Dutch_, by Paulus Buchius,
Dr. of Physick, &c. and Licensed according to Order, and are to be sold
by _T. Howkins_, Bookseller, in _George-yard, Lumbard-Street_.

THE TALKING DEAF MAN.

CHAP. I.
An Inquiry into the Nature of a Voice, and in what respect it differs
from the Breath.
Let no Man presume, that he shall ever attain to this noble Art, if he
remain Ignorant in what it is that the nature of the Letters, as well in
general, as special, doth consist; for it was this very thing which gave
occasion to the composing of this small Treatise: Wherefore, before I
treat of the manner of instructing Deaf Persons, I shall bring into
examination, First, the material part of the Letters, viz. Voice and

_Breath_; Secondly, the Letters themselves, and their Differences:
Thirdly, and Lastly, I will teach the Practise of the Art.
I have oftentimes heard from some Persons, that it was little beneath a
Miracle, that God should give Men, to express the Thoughts of the
Mind, rather by Motions, which are effected by the Lips, the Tongue,
the Teeth, &c. than otherwise, and that so universally, that there is no
Nation so Barbarous, no not excepting the Hottentots, which cannot
speak in a Language. But let (I pray) these Men consider, what it is that
Men rightly Instituted would have, whilst they mutually talk one with
another; for they desire to open the most inward Recesses of the Heart,
yea, and to transfuse their own proper Life into others, which thing
cannot be more commodiously done, than by Speaking; for there is
nothing which floweth forth from us, which carrieth with it a more
vivid Character of the Life, than our Voice doth; yea, in the Voice is the
Breath of Life, part of which passeth into the _Voice_; for indeed the
Voice is the Child of the Heart, which is the Seat of the Affections, and
of Desire. Hence it is, that sometimes we are not able to keep back the
impetuous Motions of the Affections; but _out of the abundance of the
Heart, the Mouth speaketh._ Thus, when we desire something in our
selves, and yet are afraid to express it, the Heart labours like a Woman
with Child, and becomes Anxious; but if we can pour it forth into the
Bosom of a Friend, there presently ariseth great Tranquility, and we say,
that we have emptied our Hearts: Yea, so full is the Voice of the Life,
which immediately flows from the Heart, that to talk long, extreamly
wearieth us; but especially the Sick, who oftentimes can scarce utter
three or four words, but they faint away. Therefore, to comprehend
much in a few words, the Voice is an Emanation from that very Spirit,
which God breathed inth Man's Nostrils, when he Created him a living
Soul. Hence also, _The Word of God, the Son of God, the
Omnipotence of God_, &c. are in Holy Scripture oftentimes
homonymous, or of the like, and same import.
It is no wonder